Ghost

What a great way to spend Halloween, watching the 1990 movie "Ghost" with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.  I don't remember liking it as well the first time I saw it.  Perhaps since I experienced the death of Richard in 1996 and felt his presence after death, I may have related more this time.  Anyway, if you haven't seen it or haven't seen it since 1990, it is worth another look.  Very well done and a lot of truth in its portrayal.  And I couldn't remember much of it so it was very suspenseful.  Sam Wheat's last words were something like "Love, you take it with you" as he follows the light to heaven.  Patrick Swayze's wife was on "Oprah" and referred to their hope of life after death and being together.  Before he died he said, "Now, I will find out."  Someone should be a good missionary to her and explain that they can be together for eternity. 

"GHOST is a love story, a supernatural tale and a murder mystery thriller with comedic moments mixed in, all of which are uniquely blended together to make a superbly entertaining movie."  That is what the trailer said and it is true! 

It is also a story about Life after Death, and Heaven and Hell and portrays that fairly well, too.  I am sure there are many people who gained more hope from this movie than just the fantasy it is described as being.

Halloween

I haven't received any pictures of grandchildren or great grandchildren dressed up for Halloween but here are Sage and Raina dressed up as Charlie Brown and Snoopy with mother Bethany the witch.  Snoopy looks a little apprehensive looking at the witch.  "Where did my mom go?"

Halloween is not my favorite holiday.  However, when we lived in Pacific Beach and the children were nine years and under Richard loved to decorate the garage with all kinds of things and a black light.  But after the children were grown we would usually escape to a movie at Seaport Village.  No children around my house here so it will be a quiet Halloween again.

Finally, a Door that Really Locks!

Can you believe it, after living here for ten years, I finally have a front door that locks!!! Yea, thank you Matt, for putting new security knobs on my front door and garage... what would I do without a grandson visiting me from time to time?

Kate

The birthday girl of the week is great granddaughter Kate who is 3 years old on October 28! Kate is a child who loves life and life loves her. Have a very, very happy birthday, Kate.

I Love NFL Football

Philip Rivers of the Chargers

Watching NFL football is just a total positive feeling for me. I love it. I love watching these guys do what they do and do it so well. I wonder what it would be like to be a Randy Moss or a Tom Brady, etc. and to be so good at what you do. Yes, I know they have worked at it all their life and I love that they care so much. Tonight it was interesting to watch the whole Cardinal team (who were not on the field winning the last minute of the game) get down on their knees and pray once they knew they had won. I know Kurt Warner is religious. I admire them not being afraid to show it. I wish our American leaders would show that kind of reverence for the Lord.

50 Year Anniversary

50 Years Married--even if Richard is up in heaven. Today I went to the Temple with Mary Anne and Jean and, yes, I did think of Richard.

When I picture Richard at the Temple, it is always the same. We are kneeling at the altar, holding hands, looking at each other and making promises. Or one time when he unexpectedly walked up to me (we were serving in different areas of the Temple) and whispered in my ear, "You're the prettiest lady here!" Richard was always generous with his complements.

But thankfully, when we are living in the eternities, it will be at our most perfect age--not this old lady look. I wonder if my hair will be bottle red (as it was at my most perfect age) or natural brown. Hmmm....

It was a lovely day for reminiscing. I told Jean, Richard would probably be at the pizza parlor with us afterwards, he always loved to eat out...

The Story of Bruce, 2009, An Inspiring True Story by Maria

This was written by Maria but I am sharing it here, great story.

From Maria: "I don't have a current picture of our sweet dog Bruce, this was taken at the end of March as we were preparing to move to San Diego...me, Matt, Mitch and sweet Bruce. Bruce has had a hard life and seems to have all the same problems we have...complete instability. Strangest thing happened yesterday...you be the judge:

First of all, there is a long story about how we acquired Bruce...but in the essence of time I'll just say this...Mitch found Bruce at the pound...he was a runaway. Mitch had wanted a dog for a long time. We have had many dogs over the years that had never attached to us quite like Bruce. When we moved into our newly built home and could have a dog again we began thinking about if we we really wanted the work of one again. After two of Mitch's friends died in a very tragic way, we knew he needed a companion to help him through. My ex found a very expensive and beautiful retriever puppy...who died shortly after we brought him home...this just added to his pain and Mitch decided he really didn't want a dog anyway.

So why Mitch decided on that particular day a few years ago, to go to the pound by himself to look for a dog is anybodies guess...he just felt the inspiration to do it and called me at work to say "I found my dog". He knew immediately that Bruce (named after Bruce Wayne...Batman...and Bruce Lee because Mitch likes him too) was his dog and if he didn't bring him home, the pound would have put him to sleep the next day. Mitch loved that he saved Bruce's life...and more importantly, at the time, Mitch felt Bruce saved his life. Needless to say, Bruce has been a very important friend to our family in the last few rocky years.

This past April, Bruce stayed with Mitch at a friends house after I moved to SD...he wasn't comfortable at his Dad's. I was trying to find a place to bring Bruce but haven't been able to do so. Mitch had to make a decision as to whether to live at his Dads in June, his brothers or with me. Mitch wanted to go where Bruce went. He tried it at his Dad's for a bit and kept Bruce but when that didn't go well he decided to come to SD. Matt was living at his Dad's at the time and assured Mitch he'd keep Bruce with him. For whatever reason, his Dad didn't want Bruce there. While I was in Sweden, I asked my ex to just keep him til I got back and I would find a place for him. Again, for whatever reason, my ex couldn't wait. He did find a nice home for him with a big yard and let Mitch know he would be given to this other family. This threw Mitch into a panic and he jumped in his car to drive the 12 hours and see his beloved dog once more. On the way...he totaled his car. He never made it to see Bruce. Mitch was fine physically...but that's about all I can say.

There were a lot of tears by both Matt and Mitch when it came to losing our sweet friend...and it was only a small consolation that he was in a good home. Needless to say, the attachment to our pets is as strong as to a person and he has not been forgotten even a little bit. There was always the hope that somehow he would be with us again. Mitch was able to go visit his friend this past trip to Susanville a few weeks ago and had some 'closure' and accepted the reality that Bruce has a new home and seemed to be happy there. I thought that was the end of the story. But like any good book...there is always a strange twist. So to the point of my long story.

Yesterday, Matt who was home visiting from Tahoe for a dental appointment was upset about something with his Dad. Matt moved into a home in Tahoe that he could have a pet and felt he needed a companion to comfort him. He went to the pound in Susanville. Again, this is not something any of my children ever do...so Mitch doing it the first time was odd...Matt doing it the second time was odder still. And lo and behold but who was in the animal shelter? Bruce. Was Matt inspired to bring home our dog? Poor Bruce had been there for 8 days...it wasn't likely they would have kept him much longer and the thought that had Matt not found him and he would have been put down without any of us knowing is frightening. No one knew at the time what the story was but Matt broke down when he saw our dog and called his Grandma to come and help save him...he needed pound fees and rabies shots to get him out of 'jail'. As Grandma always does, she jumped in the car to save her grandson and his beloved pet.

The rest of the story: I received an email from my ex (which was odd because that just doesn't happen)...Matt had left a message with the people who had the dog to say 'What the....?" basically and I guess they called my ex. They said he 'ran away' and they 'called' the pound and they said they didn't have him. They wanted him back. I left it up to Matt to decide what to do...but the questions one has to ask:

Bruce lived with us for a long time with complete freedom and no fence...he never ran away...so why did he run from them?

He was at the pound for 8 days...why would the pound say he wasn't there if he was? Why wouldn't the people who lost him go look for themselves if they cared that much? If Matt hadn't been there to find him on that day Bruce would have been put down (or adopted by someone else) and neither the other people, nor us would have ever known what happened to him...was Matt inspired to find him and bring him home?

Matt tried to talk to the other people and explain the situation and that he was going to keep the dog (he found him, he paid the fees, he was ours before and should have never been given away, etc.) but they aren't very happy with him. I'm pretty sure my ex thinks the dog should be given back to those people and that they have been 'hurt' by this. But what about the 'hurt' of my kids...who never should have lost their dog in the first place. This all could have been avoided...Bruce never really needed to be kicked out of his family...he just wasn't welcome in his own home...which is pretty much how everyone else in the family feels too. Somehow I think it is meant to be...he really does belong to us in every possible way. I'm so glad Matt listened to those tender promptings to go to the pound yesterday. We haven't even told Mitch yet..."

Mail Order

I am becoming the mail order queen. I can't believe how much easier, faster, and more efficient it is. I ordered printing cartridges from Costco. Two day service and free shipping. I ordered a telephone from Walmart (they didn't have it when I was there a couple weeks ago). One day service and shipping charges were less than driving down there! I ordered flannel pajamas from Macys. Free shipping and three day service. Plus you don't end up buying a lot of other things just because you are there and think of all the gas I am saving! I LIKE IT!

Night Vision, Day Beauty, and TV

I wish I had some night vision goggles so I could see what goes on in my back lot at night. Today I raked the branches from the last storm and it is interesting to see how much deer activity there is out there and I never see them in the day time. Someone is eating a lot of pine cones, too, and leaving big messes on the tree stumps so they must be having squirrel parties late at night because they have been laying low in the daytime. It has been wonderful to have enough rain to soften the ground so I could fertilize a few of my trees--not the big pine trees though, they are on their own.

This is a gorgeous time of year with all the red, yellow, gold, and auburn leaves everywhere. It tried to snow but couldn't last, too warm in the day, and cool at night. Sweatshirt weather.

I have learned the art of watching 3 Primetime 1 hr shows in just over 2 hrs. I switch from one to the other as they are being recorded and erase all the commercials and change channels everytime the commercials start. I only need to do this on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as there are not enough good primetime shows on the other nights. If you haven't gone the DVR route yet, you are missing out on a lot of good TV. I get a real education from much of what I watch by choosing selectively my recordings and then watching when I want.

Movie of the day today was "Elmer Gantry". Thanks be to Ted Turner for TCM. What excellent movies you can see there. They make some of the fluff of today shameful.

Twin Update

Now, Raina, that is what I call a smile!

These cuties are still smaller than most babies are when they are born and they look like darling dolls. They remind me of the dolls I bought my girls once which could wear newborn clothes. I think I loved those dolls more than they did.

I think the next picture we get will have big smiles--this is Sage with the knowing grin on her face and Raina is observing what Sage is doing. Does that mean Sage will be the leader and Raina the follower? It will be interesting to see...Thanks for the update, Grandma Carole.

Escape!

'Escape' is the name of a film made when I was only seven so I doubt I saw it. It starred Robert Taylor and Norma Shearer and, of course, was a black and white. It was a film about the Nazis prior to the Americans entering the war. An American goes over to Germany to find out what happened to his mother. She had been an actress in Germany, had then moved to America and while there befriended German refugees. However, the Germans considered them traitors and therefore she was a traitor to them and so when she came back to Germany to sell her house they arrested her and were holding her in a concentration camp. They planned on executing her.

It was a well done movie and very suspenseful. I had to look ahead to see if there was a happy ending. I have watched too many sad endings lately and movies about Nazis and there terrible brutality have always frightened me. During WWII we always saw news movies about the war shown before the regular movie. They showed pictures of the Nazis doing the goosestep and told terrible things bout them. I would have nightmres about them coming over the Canadian border and coming to Glendive.

The thing that was especially interesting though is that the way the mother was saved was the same way Valentine was saved in 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. They were both given some kind of drug which put them in a coma and they were thought to be dead and put in a casket. As soon as possible they were removed from the casket (in another location) and kept warm until they revived. (They didn't do all the things they do to dead people now obviously). Anyway I had never heard of this kind of a trick and to read about it and see it in a movie a day later was especially intriguing.

This is what was printed about the movie in 1940 when it was made.

"Propaganda? Well, of course—if you choose to label a picture which tells a documented story with that word. But this film is something more than a shocking, repulsive account of brutality and inhumanity directed against helpless beings. Rather it is a story of courageous opposition to a system which attempts to crush the freedom of mankind, a vivid and inspiring tale of a small but significant cooperative effort to defeat the forces of oppression. In the course of it, more than one regimented victim breaks his bonds, even though, in the end, only one unfortunate goes free. The conclusion is victory, not defeat."

Yes, I watch a lot of movies!

The Scarlet Letter

I also watched an interesting version of 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne today. it was the silent version made in 1926 with the famous movie star of the silent screen, Lillian Gish. She is so petite and sweet looking, she reminded me of Sarah. I must say movies have come a loooong way in the past 83 years.

They had extreme difficulty telling a complex story such as this with no speaking words and just simple narration to read. The actors and actresses had to emote so much with their faces and body language.

Simple as it was it held me entranced as the fire went out and I didn't even notice. I remember reading that novel in high school and Hester Prynne became a heroine to me. I remember wondering how I would handle what she went through if it happened to me in 1950. I decided I could not be so noble or brave as she was...

I had remembered she wore the A for Adultress on her forehead instead of her chest. I wonder where I got that...

Finally Finished!

I finally finished 'The Count of Monte Cristo'--only took me about a month to read 1462 pages!! Well worth it, though, I recommend it highly. I believe the message of the book was in the final words to dear Maximillan from the Count--among other things he wrote:

"There is neither happiness nor misery in this world there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness."

Hmm, where have we heard that message before. Sounds a lot like the scriptures.

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility. 2 Nephi 2:11

I Like A Rainy Day

My plan was to finish my book 'Count of Monte Cristo' today but TCM had such good movies I couldn't turn off the TV. It was either a Paris theme day or Broken Heart theme day because all the movies took place in Paris and all had sad endings. They were all from the 50's and 60's and none were familiar to me, even though they starred Deborah Kerr, Elizabeth Taylor, Van Johnson, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, David Niven, Ingrid Bergman, etc. So, very enjoyable, sad endings and all.

It always surprises me when I watch the old movies that there was still black and white in the 60's and that in the 30's to 60's era there was so much illicit love. I don't know if I just missed it or what, but it is a surprise--thought it came much later.

 

Bandido was a real wimp today. I put on our rain coats and had the big umbrella but I had to coax him to even go as far as the driveway. He is truly showing his age.

I I I kind of like having my geraniums in the house--will see how long they last.

Anyway the fire has been going all day and it has been a lovely, lovely rainy day.

Getting Ready for Winter

You can tell that winter is coming soon..

My neighbors on both sides of me and across from me have all been up this week and closed their homes for the winter. I caught Jeff before he left to help me get my umbrella off and put away for the winter. But I put up all my vent guards myself. And put away all garden decorations and trimmed down the perennials.

The leaves are changing colors--so pretty everywhere.

And the deer are hungrier than usual--you can tell by what they are eating. They knocked over the cage around a bush and completely devoured the leaves.

And some late blooming lillies were just ready to bloom--the deer have eaten all but one. I thought the cage around them was high enough--alas it was not. They will probably eat the other one tonight.

Even Bandido had to get in the act, he dug a nice deep hole he could snuggle up in.

But the geraniums look better than ever. Freezing nights have not affected them at all. So what to do with them, see if they can live inside or??????

And, of course, there is still plenty of sunshine and warm days, at least until tomorrow. There is supposed to be wind and rain here and snow in the higher elevations. Yes, winter is on the way but right now it is just a lovely fall day.

I love this time of year in Lake Almanor.

Pres. Goolsby's Barbeque Bash

Friday night we had a delicious barbeque at the home of John and Jane Goolsby in Chester. Their home sits right on the bank of the Feather River. I had no idea they were so close. The dog even drinks her water by standng on the rocks near the edge. I wish I had remembered my camera!

Jean sent me these pix and from right to left is Jane (John's wife), Margaret, Sue, and Mary Anne.

This is Sue again with me. Notice their kitchen has this lovely color of red just like I would like in my living room!!

The tri tip and chicken were delicious (that Ron supervised) and there were lots of wonderful salads. And it was delightful sitting on the patio even if fall has arrived!! Great party with our little Branch family!

Judy Garland

I just watched another biography of Judy Garland. This was a movie made from the book her daughter Lorna Luft wrote "Me and My Shadow". It was very well done.

She was one of my favorite movie stars and singers. Of course, she is the one that made "Over the Rainbow" (my favorite song) famous and was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

She also starred in "A Star Is Born" and I loved her singing in that. Wish I could have seen the full version before they butchered it. Still a great film though.

She started at MGM when she was 13 and even then they controlled her life with pills and too much work. She never really had a childhood. It is so sad the way the very talented are used and abused by those around them. Too often they end up without money, addicted to drugs and die at a young age.

I think she was only 48 when she died. It is amazing to me to see how someone so gifted can have so much doubt about their talent. And need so much love that they are crippled by their doubts and rely too much on other people. Sort of makes our doubts about ourselves seem very appropriate.

Watching films about these movie stars and singers that appear to have everything but a normal life makes you realize that not having any talents can be a blessing, too.

Family for the Weekend!

It was so great to have Maria up here for the weekend. I get lonely up here and it has been a long time since she has been here. I like her new car, too.

Then to have Matt and Mitch come up Sunday was icing on the cake. Of course, they did the usual chores of Mitch filling my wood bin on the deck and Matt cleaning the gutters and roof one more time for winter. Mitch spent most of the weekend with all his friends in Susanville and Matt came up from Tahoe City. Melissa stayed down in Chico with her friends so I didn't get to see her.

Maria has such a dramatic life, I like hearing of her adventures first hand. From one day to the next it was a puzzle to figure it all out. In the end, she found out for sure that the infamous T is apparently a pathological liar. Better to find out now than later, but it was all so unbelievable until actually proven. If you read her blog, you know what I mean. She better write a book is all I can say, it would be a best seller, I am sure. Or the perfect deception drama that Lifetime Movie Network loves to show about the frailities of the human species.

Movies You Must See

Somewhere I read this list of "Movies You Must See" and of course, they are oldies, so you either have to find them on TCM, FX or FMC, etc. or rent them from the video store. I have seen many of them in the past but thought I would attempt to see them all again and see what made them so excellent. Both of these came up today on TV.

'My Darling Clementine' with Henry Fonda and Victor Mature. This is without a doubt the best Wyatt Earp film I have seen. Not so violent as the present day ones. Makes Wyatt Earp more believable as Henry Fonda played him.

Then I watched 'Che' which is the story of how Che Guavara helped Fidel Castro overthrow Batista in Cuba and what happed to Che when Castro took power. Very excellent also. That is two for two!!

Movies to Watch For or Rent:

• A Man Escaped
• Adams Rib
• All That Heaven Allows
• Ashes and Diamonds
• Beat the Heat
• Black Narcissus
• Breathless
• Brief Encounter
• Che
• Cleaner
• Deception
• Diary of a Country Priest
• Eyes W? a Face
• Gun Crazy
• Henry V
• His Girl Friday
• I Know Where I’m Going
• In a Lonely Place
• Ivan the Terrible, Part 2
• Kinds Hearts and Coronets
• Kiss Me Deadly
• Lady from Shanghai
• Lars and the Real Girls
• La Stroh
• Leatherheads
• Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
• Lola Montes
• Man Who Knew Too Much
• Marty
• Murder My Sweet
• My Darling Clementine
• Nights and Cabria
• Night and Fog
• Now Voyager
• Open City
• Out of the Past
• Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
• Paths of Glory
• Pickup on South Street
• Postman Always Rings Twice
• Rashomen
• Salt of the Earth
• Smart People
• Strangers on a Train
• Testament of Orpheus
• The Bandwagon
• The Bicycle Thief
• The Big Heat
• The Cranes are Flying
• The Day the Earth Stood Still
• The Palm Beach Story
• The Seventh Seal
• The Stranger
• Throne of Blood
• To Have and Have Not
• Tokyo Story
• Umberto D
• Unfaithfully Yours
• White Heat
• Wild Strawberries
• 21
• 88 Minutes

Fatigue Fighter

I have found a new way to amuse and humiliate myself. It was suggested in 'First for Women' magazine that there are 10 ways to get Energy on Demand and #7 is to Belt Out Your Favorite Melody.

Well, I have never been afraid to sing to myself but this takes it to a whole new dimension. On SingSnap.com you can sing to a karoke and record it! You can share it with everyone and get rated and even display your picture or....you can keep it private. Naturally, I keep it private. I was hoping I could come up with something that little Kelsi might appreciate but not yet. I sound like a wailing cat.

But, it does give you energy and lifts your spirits by making you laugh. And I have so much more appreciation for my favorite vocalists. I don't think I have ever heard myself sing before. Now I know why one of my kindergarten fathers was concerned that his son was being taught to sing flat.

Melissa, you have lots of time, you could have a lot of fun with this. You can also choose to listen to other people by choosing whose picture you like. I noticed one good looking guy had several 'views' so I listened to him. He was soulful...sounded so romantic.

And Mitch you can make music and share it with us! Check it out.

Remember Zach?

My niece Sherry and her son Zach lived with us for a time in La Jolla when Meagan was a toddler. I think Meagan was two years older than Zach. The things I remember about Zach was his love of playing 'baseball' with his Mom and the speed with which he could take off in the mall (if he had a mind to) and what a darling boy he was. And, wow, look at him now...what a handsome guy.

Meagan and Kristi, do you remember playing with Zach those many years ago??? Kristi was just a baby so doubt she does.

Zach is a Texan. Cute girlfriend is named Belaca and evidently it is serious. Zach works as a valet while finishing his classes at Auburn Community College and will be going to Texas State to complete his marketing degree. Sherry says he is very friendly and quite the salesman. I remember Marilyn telling me he has supported himself for a long time and is a very good worker and student. So nice to get acquainted with you again, Zach. Thanks for the pix, Sherry.

Summer is Officially Over...at least till the Weekend!

Big surprise. It is cold this morning!!! 28 Degrees. It doesn't feel that cold though. But I had my first cozy fire last night. The wood is so dry it is a huge, crackly, 'catch on fire fast' burn. Nice!

I am up to 700 pages (of 1400) on the 'Count of Monte Cristo'. I finally got smart and went to the internet and downloaded a list of all the characters. There are so many characters and so many sub plots, I couldn't keep track of them all. This is much easier. It must be easy to write school essays now when you can get all the answers on the internet.

It is so amazing to me all the inventions since I was a child. How did we live without tv, microwaves, ipods, computers, cell phones, jet planes, etc? And what will life be like when the grandchildren are in their 70's? No way to even imagine.

Santa Update!

While we are at it, here is an update on our very own hometown Santa! No fake whiskers on this Santa. Doing a great job, Bill. Keep up the good work.

Twins Update!

Calm looking Mom, Bethany. Twins look very mellow and content. Nice going, Mom! They are one month old on Sept 26 and Sept 27. Close up of Sage and Raina. Sage is larger than Raina, but Raina has the big eyes. Cute, cute. This will be fun to watch as they grow and develop their own personalities.

Fall is Here

I can't believe it! It's already time to get out the flannel pjs. It'll soon be time for the wood stove...I love it.

Another Nice Weekend

Friday I went to the Reno Temple with Mary Anne and Jean. Lovely day but ate too much at the Pizza Buffet on the way home. They have these wonderful cinnamon twists with frosting on them for dessert and I can't get enough of them. Reminds me of the cinnamon rolls my Mom made almost every week. I had it so much better in the food department than my children did. My Mom was a fantastic cook.

Saturday I surveyed the work the chipmunks did while I was gone. It is hilarious. They have these holes all over the yard (not in my iris bed anymore, though) and they have put these large green pine cones in them. Of course, they can't get them all the way down the holes so they sit on top, in plain sight. My dilemma--should I rake them away when I clean up the yard tomorrow or should I leave them, just in case they really do need them this winter. I don't know how a chipmunk thinks so is he going to be in the hole, coming in from another side and just eat off of the pine cone when he needs it, since it will be under the snow. I wish I knew. I really have sympathy for them, and the snow will cover them in a few months and no one really cares if my yard is messy looking except me...hmm, big decision.

Today we had a wonderful chili and cornbread dinner after Sacrament Meeting. Because on the third week of the month a visiting High Councilman and his speaking partners come from quite a distance to our chapel, we prepare a nice dinner for them and invite the whole ward to stay. We all contribute, of course. I took brownies and my raisen bars. I really thought the raisen bars would be left but every one was eaten and Pres. Struve said he loved them, so did Bishop Martin and Jean said she was taking a couple home. Older generation treat, I think.

I taught the lesson in Relief Society and it was on being a good friend. I don't know how great the lesson was but I surely enjoyed remembering all the really great friends I have had the privilege of having in my life over the years. Too numerous to count, too many to name but I really appreciate all the friends I have and have had--some since childhood. There is really nothing more precious in life than our friends, of which I mean family members as well. After all, we get along in life...but only with a little help from our friends.

I have really been enjoying reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" and that surprises me very much. I only have about another 1000 pages to go but it is really a page turner, honestly. It went along with my lesson when Dante realizes that the friendship he has had with Faria in prison is far more precious than his dream of escape. There were beautiful paragraphs on the value of friendship in our life. And Dumas, the author, makes you realize what the mind is really capable of. However, Faria admitted he would not have been able to develop it so intrically if he had been free, but being imprisoned he forced himself to recall and remember and continually develop his memory to perfection. Could you write word for word whole books you have read? I remember many stories from WWII of how prisoners survived by forcing their minds to recall and continually develop to a higher plane rather than succumb to their surroundings.

I wonder what exciting events await Dante tonight--I read in bed.

Les Miserables

Today was 'Les Miserables' day. I watched the old black and white version with Fredic March and a very young Charles Laughton. Both actors were great and it is a terrific interpretation of the book. And then I play the musical version and it really stirs my soul.

I must admit I had to stop watching the movie for awhile, I get very upset by the inequities in life, the unfairness of it all, but the remorse on Charles Laughton's (Javert's) face before he drowns himself made up for all the rest...

I don't understand how I got all through school without having to read 'Les Miserables' or even see the movie. I wasn't aware of it at all until the new musical version came out and our Church did a performance of it. Anyway the music always gives me a great lift...so grateful for the talents of others.

Time for Santa...almost

Hard to believe I am old enough to have gone to grade school with Santa but there he is--same age as me and went to Washington Grade School and Dawson High . Looking good, Bill, you are a very authentic looking Santa!

Happy Birthday Weekend in Sacramento

Here is Michael in front of his apartment. I enjoyed Mike's Birthday weekend in Sacramento.

I noticed when we were at Olive Garden we had very good service and then I realized we had a girl waitress.

Same thing happened last fall at the Outback and other restaurants. Mike ignores it all and doesn't appear to notice.

Anyway I had a lovely weekend and hope he did, too.

He chose a Strawberry Cheesecake for his birthday cake...

While doing our Art Studio walk we

came across this interesting store

window with a huge cat sleeping in

it. Mike let me take his picture in

front of it. Turned out kind of interesting. Gorgeous flowers.

I had a hard time walking because I couldn't breathe very well cuz of my allergies so we didn't get to see many art studios but it was interesting talking to the artists we saw. Mike patiently walked slow with me.

Mike enjoyed his favorite Chicken

Fajitas at Chevys Fresh Mex on the

bank of the American River. I had my favorite Flautas. Love them.

I love the way the river winds through Sacramento. Mike says the

young people have inexpensive and

noisy parties just by parking 2 or 3 boats together.

A visit to the State Capital is always

worthwhile just to see the trees and

flowers. There is usually some

wedding party there taking pictures.

There is supposedly a tree planted

there for every kind in Sacramento

and supposedly Sacramento has more

variety of trees than any other city.

That is why it is called "The City of

Trees."

Regardless of the allergies from the trees and things, it was a great weekend. Thanks, Mike, for spending time with your Grandma.

Sacramento for the Weekend

So Bandido is off to the kennel tomorrow and I am off to Sacramento to celebrate grandson Mike's birthday!! The critters can take over the yard and I can forget about ACORN and Health Care and all the bad news I hear everyday. Should be a lovely change...

The Critters Are Gone--For Now!

This morning I flooded 9 holes of the chipmunks--they were nowhere in sight. A short time later one of them came and inspected his burrows. Immediately he ran over to the neighbors yard and up a tree where he started chattering loudly to another chipmunk(She?) One of them started chasing the other and they jumped to one of my trees and pursued the chase until one of them (He?) ran off to the front yard and then I saw him chasing all over the very back of my lot about 5 minutes later.

My Take: I think he was making the nesting burrows and when they were flooded she scolded him for choosing such a bad place until he ran off to pursue a better habitat. At least I haven't seen or heard anything of them since! We'll see...

Reading the Classics

Yesterday I started on another one of the Classics. That is on my list of 25 Things To Do Before I Die, to read all the Classics. I carry in my car a notebook with lists of booktitles. One Meagan sent me which was a College Bound Reading List. One is The 400 Best Books Ever Written by Melissa Field and one is Read The Classics from Target.com and one is Explore Banned Books from Google (many of which have been made in to movies and most adults have read). So I have a lot of books to choose from when I go to the library and believe it or not I have read a good many of them. (I check them off also, so I don't read them twice, otherwise I would never know).

Yesterday I found a new edition of "The Count of Monte Cristo" and am thoroughly enjoying it. Only 1400 pages to go. Yes, I have seen the movie but as all readers know, that is not the same and I hate it when CD books are abridged. I won't listen to an abridged book. If I just want the story I can read that on the internet, if it is worth listening to or reading it is worth hearing it all, I think.

At the back of the book I was impressed to read about the Modern Library Editorial Board with impressive authors on the list. Evidently the Modern Library has been "providing readers with affordable hardbound editions of important works of literature and thought" since 1917. This book was just reprinted in 1996 so it is very nice and easy to read. Thanks to all the people out there who provide us with good books to read and libraries in every town.

Incidentally I have never read a 'Classic' I didn't like and that surprised me, though it shouldn't or why would it be called a classic...

Critters Drive Me Crazy

Some little critters that look suspiciously like this chipmunk are driving me crazy. They are digging holes in my potted plants and raised garden beds. There is almost a half acre of dirt but they only dig holes in my gardening areas. When I chase them with a hose or a noise making branch they run up a tree and get about 100 feet up and then look down on me and taunt me with a "chi, chi, chi, chi...". Bandido likes to chase them but he is no match for tree climbers.

There have always been squirrel holes around the yard but I don't remember any making all these big holes in my soft garden dirt. Yes, it is the fall and they are preparing for winter but....there is plenty of room for them elsewhere. What to do, what to do???? They will just have to move from the Garden Apartments to the Hillside Apartments, plenty of room for them there.

Happiness

Natasha in “War and Peace” was making a list of all the things that bring happiness. I have been making sure I put things into my life that make me happy. In no particular order they are:

1-Reading a very enjoyable book, that I can’t put down till I finish it. Last night I did that. It was 11 o’ clock, I wasn’t tired, I started a book and could not put it down until it was finished at 4:38 in the morning. HAPPY

2-Taking a nap under my favorite comforter with total silence surrounding me. That happened today. Being totally tired after reading all night, I took my nap immediately after coming home from Church and slept till 4:30 pm. HAPPY

3-Listening to other people share their testimonies of what makes them happy, why they love the gospel, their family, etc. Today we had many visitors in Church because of the Labor Day weekend. There were many visitors and many beautiful testimonies of love and faith. One of our favorite friends Mona was visiting and there were some distant cousins of Richards that I met. Their last name was Earl, they had to be related and they were second cousins. HAPPY

4-Talking to my children or getting emails, blogs, etc. from them. This week I had calls from Camber, Linda, Jimmy and emails and blogs from Maria, Mike, Meagan ,,, That is an easy way to make a Mom, Grandmom, HAPPY

5-Getting messages on Facebook from relatives, friends, family—What an easy way to get happy, just a little one liner will do it. There were lots this week. HAPPY

6-Having good conversations with friends or family—This week I enjoyed long conversations with Carole, Linda, Myrna, Marjorie HAPPY

7-Working in the yard—yes, that has always been an enjoyable task for me. I have a fond memory of Richard calling out from our upstairs window to me. “Janet, come in, your babies need you.”. He did not enjoy yard work. I loved it. This week I had lots of opportunities to water and mulch while listening to my favorite music on the ipod. HAPPY

Well, that is enough of a list for today. It is time to listen to my favorite music and go to sleep again under my favorite comforter…HAPPY

Bandido is half Lahasa Apso so I took this test.

Who is in charge? Quiz for Apso Owners

1. Does your dog fail to get up and out of your way when you are on a collision course with him? yes

2. Does your dog try to go through the door first - ahead of you? yes

3. Does your dog resist giving up objects when you try to take them? yes

4. Does your dog pull you when he is on a leash? Sometimes

5. Does your dog ever growl at you?

6. Does your dog resist grooming or nail cutting? yes

7. Does your dog sleep in your bed? yes

8. Does your dog ignore you when you ask him to come? yes, tries to

9. Does your dog guard food dish or toys against you.

10. Does your dog snap at treats or try to take them away from you? yes

If you answered yes to more than three of these, you are not in charge, HE IS. You have to get control before you have a real problem on your hands. (Too late, he is 13 years old.) Dogs, especially Apsos respond to a power vacuum by asserting their own dominance. If you fail to teach the dog his place in society, he will assume control and teach you yours. (My neighbor told me this when I first moved here, because Bandido did not mind me.)

OK, I admit, Bandido runs this house.

But I will say this, he is very protective of me and follows me from room to room, even getting up in the middle of the night and dragging his tail to wherever I may be, computer room, kitchen, couch, etc. When I bathe, he sits as close to the tub as he can and when I am out of sight, he finds me.

Overall, I would say he is a great companion dog with an independent spirit. Goes well with mine.

Rod Stewart

Talk about being thankful for other people's talents, I am a real fan of Rod Stewart. Actually I was not even aware of him or his music until 2000 or so whenever he started singing the classics. This was actually the start of his fourth or more decade of singing. Maria bought the cd and told me I would like it because it was all the songs of my youth and indeed it was. And then he went on to do three or four more classic song cds. I was still in my collecting music phase and so have all of them, of course. And I came to love some of his rock songs when I bought one of his concerts on DVD. He does a fantastic concert. Marvelous entertainer.

Yesterday I watched his biography and how he started out with the wild life in the sixties, (but he did have a solid family foundation) had nothing but success with music and women, fathered 7 children or more, became fantasticly wealthy and enjoys his family life now and his children and ex-wives even say nice things about him.

One of my favorite songs he wrote after one of his long legged, beautiful blonde wives left him. This was a first for him. No one ever left him and broke his heart but out of it came the tender song, " I Don't Want To Talk About It."

Anyway wicked lifestyle or not in the beginning, he has certainly made a success of his career and family life and I am thankful for his great talent. He even had cancer of the thyroid and his voice came back better than ever. How blessed can you get? Some people are indeed blessed all their life with everything, it seems. Hmmm.

Rod Stewart

Talk about being thankful for other people's talents, I am a real fan of Rod Stewart. Actually I was not even aware of him or his music until 2000 or so whenever he started singing the classics. This was actually the start of his fourth or more decade of singing. Maria bought the cd and told me I would like it because it was all the songs of my youth and indeed it was. And then he went on to do three or four more classic song cds. I was still in my collecting music phase and so have all of them, of course. And I came to love some of his rock songs when I bought one of his concerts on DVD. He does a fantastic concert. Marvelous entertainer.

Yesterday I watched his biography and how he started out with the wild life in the sixties, (but he did have a solid family foundation) had nothing but success with music and women, fathered 7 children or more, became fantasticly wealthy and enjoys his family life now and his children and ex-wives even say nice things about him.

One of my favorite songs he wrote after one of his long legged, beautiful blonde wives left him. This was a first for him. No one ever left him and broke his heart but out of it came the tender song, " I Don't Want To Talk About It."

Anyway wicked lifestyle or not in the beginning, he has certainly made a success of his career and family life and I am thankful for his great talent. He even had cancer of the thyroid and his voice came back better than ever. How blessed can you get? Some people are indeed blessed all their life with everything, it seems. Hmmm.

13 To Go!

I just reviewed the list I made in 1997 of 25 Things I Want To Do Before I Die and amazingly I only have 13 left to accomplish. Four of those involve physical fitness and shape and since I am going more the other directon as far as energy and stamina are concerned they may not ever be accomplished.

Four of them involve literary and spiritual fitness--all a possibility, if the eyes and determination remain strong.

And lastly four of them involve trips and fiscal fitness so depending on my abilities and desire to make them happen, they may or may not occur. At least the trips are all within the US.

So I am amazed at all I have accomplished. It really does work to write things down I guess. Interestingly none of the things I wrote down involved other people originally but, of course, involved other people in the final outcome.

So before the clock winds down I need to rev up the body and spirit and carpe diem!

Now We Know Why!

While I was working on my photo books this week I noticed a comment made about our 2005 trip to the Anderson family cabin at Silvergate, Montana. It was observed that the mosquitoes liked Meagan and Sarah the best and left me entirely alone. I just read this article and now we know why they left me alone. I had too much stress in my life!

FINDING SMELLS THAT REPEL

By SHIRLEY S. WANG

If you're one of those people whom mosquitoes tend to favor, maybe it's because you aren't sufficiently stressed-out.

(Picture by Michael C Witte)

Insects have very keen powers of smell that direct them to their targets. But for researchers trying to figure out what attracts or repels the pests, sorting through the 300 to 400 distinct chemical odors that the human body produces has proved daunting.

Now scientists at Rothamsted Research in the U.K. have been making headway at understanding why some people can end up with dozens of bites after a backyard barbecue, while others remain unscathed. The researchers have identified a handful of the body's chemical odors—some of which may be related to stress—that are present in significantly larger concentrations in people that the bugs are happier to leave alone. If efforts to synthesize these particular chemicals are successful, the result could be an all-natural mosquito repellent that is more effective and safer than products currently available.

Who knew? Go stress yourself out before a trip to the mountain streams and be mosquitoe free!

More of Sage and Raina

Aren't they just darling!

Grandma Carole reports they have already been out and about. I think we stayed in for weeks before venturing out into the world after our babies were born--and that was after spending a week in the hospital!! It is a whole new world.

TWINS

I think this is a first in our family--twins. My nephew Jon and his wife Bethany had twin girls-one before midnight on August 26 and one after midnight on August 27--different birthdays, is that cool or what. Their names are Sage and Raina. The family lives in beautiful Bozeman, MT.

They are fraternal twins and the report is that one looks like Jon and one looks like Bethany. Sage is on the left and Raina is on the right in Jon's arms so which looks like which??

Congratulations to the proud parents, they don't even look frazzled or tired--wow! This will be fun to watch. From the pictures I think Sage looks like Jon and Raina looks like Bethany--I wonder what the parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles all think...

Here is the official message from Grandma Carole:

"Jon and Bethany welcomed their twin baby girls, Sage and Raina at 11:46 pm and 12:14 am Aug. 26 and 27th. Nicely Done! Aimie, Bethany's nurse sister was at her side and we Fuquas and Dieides were cheering from the windows. Even with all the modern convieniences of today, childbirth has some uncomfortable situations but Bethany is a true trooper and in the words of their OB-GYN is a "rock star". Sage came first a little taller and 10 oz bigger at 5#13 oz and Raina, not far behind, at 5# 3oz. They are darling!!!! Father Jon doing very well and noticed the babies are held football style most of the time so no problem. Most of the Fuquas have had to go home but Grandpa Randy is coming today. We sure thank Bethany and Jon for this wonderful addition and continued best of wishes for the coming days."

Proud Grandma, Carole